Adventures in the Pond

This weekend was all about adventures. First, I went to Fredericksburg for an adventure with my buddy Emma. Normally, she has to listen to me whine and rant through e-mail. This time, she had to listen to me whine and rant as I dragged her up and down Main Street.




After wolfing down a bacon cheeseburger for lunch, we walked up and down the shops for a few hours. Around 1:30 p.m., we decided we'd find the pie shop and sit for awhile and chat.

That was harder than it sounded.

First, we walked past the edge of the "tourist area of town" to 501 Main Street. We found ourselves at 545 Main Street. There was no pie shop, only a hotel and dollar store. When we popped into the hotel, the lady gave us a pitying look.

"Oh, the pie company is on the other side of town," the woman informed us. "All the way past the courthouse and four or five blocks past the park. Good luck!"

It was about a two to three mile walk. Now, some of you big city folks may be scoffing at this. I would normally scoff about now too. But in 100 degree heat on concrete in the blazing sun with tourists and a pair of aching feet, this wasn't good news.

But we were determined. It was all for the pie.

We threaded through the tourists, plowed past the shops and past the courthouse. No pie shop.

Three blocks later, we had passed the Pioneer Museum and a coffee shop. No pie shop.

Two blocks later, we had passed a Jeep dealership. No pie shop.

By this point, poor Emma's dying. She has a injured toe and uncomfortable platform shoes. Her boots were not made for walking.

"I can't make it," she gasped, clinging to my arm. "We've got to do this."

I panted and flung my sweat-soaked hair out of my face. "We've got to, Emma! Think of the pie!"

"The pie," she repeated weakly. "The pie!"

Determined to eat the pie we'd driven an hour to sample, we trudged another two blocks. Emma looked down at her blistered red feet.

"We'll have to stop at the jucerie," she groaned. "I can't"--

"Emma, we're saved!" I cried dramatically. Sure enough, a pale sign advertising Fredericksburg Pie Company glinted through a tree. Emma's feet recovered enough to dash down the sidewalk, plop into a chair and order a huge slice of peanut butter cup pie and glass of water. I ordered apple. Yes, I know I obsessed over eating peanut butter pie, but it had a lot of chocolate in it. I'm allergic to chocolate.



I don't think this was a bad substitute.

Now, this was no normal apple pie. It had a crust on top that tasted like a snickerdoodle-pie hybrid and shortbread crust.

It was awesome.

Meanwhile, even Emma's feet could agree with this.



Least to say, we were happy. When I got home, I was still floating on apple pie bliss.


The next morning, we drove up to Austin. It was time for the Babies to have an adventure.



They were not amused.


The Babies have long thought they were the only dogs in the universe. I'm seriously convinced that they think Ace and Arthur in Shreveport are figments of their imagination. So not only are they being withheld in a wagon, they are in the wagon with another dog.




Bitty is really not amused. I think if Princess had been there she would have had a nervous breakdown.



As you can see, the Pond is full of fun adventures. Pie, bacon cheeseburgers and wagon rides around the yard. Don't worry--I haven't forgotten your pocket pies. They're coming tomorrow or Tuesday.



I think my adventure was much tastier. Anyone want to go with me next weekend? They've got coconut creme....